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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Self doubt and cutting meaningless words.

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Thursdays: On Writing

self doubt in revision.

So I write.

I won't call myself a writer or an author. I"m not sure if I'm looking to make writing my career but I do think it was very awesome to get published.

I'm revising. I'm on the 12 draft. My process goes a little somehing like this. I write. I sent it to my betas, Alicia, Danielle, and Cid. I change EVERYTHING they say I should change, or add more detail to or whatever. Then I send them the next draft and I do it again.

A few days ago I TOTALLY rewrote my first chapter. I sent it to Cid. I won't do much more until I get her feedback.

Why?

I don't really trust myself at all. Look I can fix your story no problem, I just can't fix my own.

Revising is awful, because now I have to look at EVERY WORD in my novel and justify it's existence.

I'm not trying to be a bummer about it.

I AM trying to find something SUPER awesome about it.

My new favorite thing about revising is CUTTING USELESS WORDS.

Oh how I love it. No self doubt there.

So I compiled a list of WEAK words from various places. I did a find all, and wrote the number down. Next I did a find NEXT and looked at EVERY time I used that word. I decided if the word should stay or go. Lots of times I cut WHOLE sentences because I didn't say a damn thing in it.
There were 1299 empty words at the start of this. I got it down to 600. In a 74K novel--- not too shabby. And it's a way to feel INSTANTLY productive.

Oh man, do I ever feel your pain! I'm working on that rediculous paranormal romance I wrote at the beginning of the year. Ya want to know how many words I cut last night? You ready for this? 7,000. S-e-v-e-n t-h-o-u-s-a-n-d *gets a cookie for spelling* When I totaled up everything I cut last night I almost passed out. It hurts! It hurts a lot! But there's so much that needs to be rewritten!!!

And I really like NSAA. It's funny and honest! Have I ever said that before? I like how the characters are honest about who they are. Fer serials!!

I actually like revising. But dude, you have to find yourself in the novel. You have to trust yourself. I think that's what makes the best authors. I just finished edits for my editor, and I didn't do every single little thing she suggested. I did about 90% of them -- in my own way. The story is mine, not hers. Your story is yours, not your CP's. I think that might be something to consider. When you trust yourself, you'll be more passionate about calling yourself an author or a writer.